One of a town’s most well-known bars has a new name for the first time in almost 50 years with customers calling it the “end of an era”.

New signs for Azuro have been put up, replacing the yellow lettering of Lashings Bar, in Upper Stone Street, Maidstone, this week.

Responding to the news, Lashings founder David Folb, who now lives in Jamaica with his wife and son, said: "I saw today the name had changed and was quite emotional about it all.

"Wonderful memories of fun nights, local football, netball, rugby, pool and of course the cricket.

"I am proud of what we achieved in all sports especially football and cricket.

"I look back with fond and wonderful memories of truly great times and thank each and every customer over the years for helping make it an institution.

"Of course, the main person whom should receive the praise is [manager] John Tobin and he is still there.

"I wish the new owners well but cannot help feeling a little sad today.”

Former punters have also reacted to the change of name, with many declaring it the “end of an era”.

One added: “A groundbreaking independent business that put the town on the map in terms of sports and hospitality.

“They can change the name but they will not change the memories.”

Another said: “Legendary bar and a legendary owner.”

A third commented: “I did my growing up there in so many ways.

“One thing to remember is that it was David, John and the people who worked and frequented there that made it so special and we will keep our memories forever.”

The premises was opened in 1976 by David but gained fame in the 1990s, becoming a global name for its all-star cricket team.

The Lashings team began by playing in village cricket leagues but after a few years signed world famous batsman and former West Indies captain Richie Richardson.

Fellow internationals soon followed, and suddenly regulars at Lashings were rubbing shoulders with sports stars such as Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan.

While the team rose to fame, the bar itself had become a fixture in the firmament of Maidstone's night-life scene as the place to go after all the other clubs had chucked out.

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David's involvement came to an end when Lashings Cricket Club was involved in a fraud case with operations manager James Honey-Green admitting diverting funds into his own bank account in 2019.

And when the Covid pandemic hit, he realised he would have to fold both the bar and the cricket team, which are both now under new ownership.